I get this. It's true, a lot of code is written and we don't know the circumstances that led to it. Those circumstances could have led to monstrosities -- I have created a good many myself. I try to empathize with those people and commits of the past.
HOWEVER, sometimes we see things that no mess of external pressure and crazy circumstance could have produced. No, these gems are born out of individual madness (maybe I've even been lucky enough to produce some myself, one can hope).
Example, no. But here's a clue: they are usually accompanied by an equally insane commit message. "Magic." "Kill me." "Why not?" or the ultimate "".
One technique that helps me keep myself sane: every commit message should describe "why", everything else is in code. I like to think it prevents a lot of future problems.
HOWEVER, sometimes we see things that no mess of external pressure and crazy circumstance could have produced. No, these gems are born out of individual madness (maybe I've even been lucky enough to produce some myself, one can hope).
Example, no. But here's a clue: they are usually accompanied by an equally insane commit message. "Magic." "Kill me." "Why not?" or the ultimate "".
One technique that helps me keep myself sane: every commit message should describe "why", everything else is in code. I like to think it prevents a lot of future problems.